I have attended three state conferences this past year, and one of the things I took away from the experiences was that it is an honor to be in this field with you all. Meeting speech-language pathologists from all over the country has allowed me to realize we are all in this together. We all fight for the same changes within our field and struggle in similar areas. As a teletherapist, some days, it can feel like we are alone. If that is you- get yourself to a state conference! Network, make new friends, and build your community. It will strengthen you as a therapist and as a person. 

Tips for Attending a Conference

• Choose courses in areas outside your usual interests. If you stick to topics you’re already familiar with, you may lose an opportunity to expand your skills and knowledge.
• Spend time walking around the Exhibit Hall and chatting with the people running the booths. Find out where they’re from and why they’re there, and get contact information if you feel you can learn from them. 
• Attend the lunches and awards ceremonies. I will honestly say I avoided them in the past, but it can be a great way to socialize and make more friends within our community. Also- some are incredibly fun!
• Consider being a presenter. Learn from your favorite speakers and think about the topics you are passionate about in this field. You may not believe it, but you likely have some enlightening information to share with the rest of us!

Some state conferences are better than others in terms of organization and getting your money’s worth. If you didn’t leave a conference feeling motivated, please consider asking around (e.g., in SLP groups on Facebook) to see what states are worth your money and time. I can honestly rank each conference I’ve attended easily from best to worst. Just know that attending the best ones can make you realize how lucky we are to have found this career. 

This December, our CEO, Melissa Jakubowitz, will present at the ASHA Convention in Seattle, Washington. Her presentation has been designated a Visionary session and will be live-streamed for those attending virtually.  The convention’s theme this year is Elevate! We’re excited to be part of this annual gathering of dedicated professionals committed to growth and innovation in our field. If you’re attending, please stop by and say hello—we’d love to connect! The details are below.

Topic Area: Business and Practice Management: Speech-Language Pathology 

Session Number: 1520 

Title: Elevate Your Practice: Proven Strategies for Increasing Income in Private Practice 

Session Format: 1-Hour Seminar (In-Person) 

Day: Friday, December 6, 2024 

Time: 3:30 PM- 4:30 PM 

Author(s):  Traci Bean (PRESENTING AUTHOR: Author who will be presenting. and MODERATOR), Melissa Jakubowitz (PRESENTING AUTHOR: Author who will be presenting.)